An Unannounced Escape

A warm recollection this morning from five years ago today:

The first three cars from the first trip, as first united in San Diego.

And on that note, one year ago today:

A tired Celica greets two new travel companions in Tacoma.

The world looked a little different then — the bulk of 2020 so far has passed at my desk, adventures largely digital. A friend recently managed to get me hooked on a video game called Red Dead Redemption 2 and it turned out to be dangerously infectious in an unanticipated way.

Rolling open plains, high cliffs, snow-capped mountains in the distance.

I want to be where he is.

So I’m setting out to find it. Mostly on a whim.

But on the way: an unplanned detour in entirely the wrong direction for rock climbing over Labor Day Weekend as I cave to peer pressure. As I anticipate this to be yet another overtime week with a pair of project kickoffs, my usual routine of driving at night would be difficult. So I’m getting an early start and plan to impose myself on a friend in the area to spend a week at his desk instead.

I’ve packed for lows in the 40s, highs in the 100s with scattered rain, remnant hurricane, fire, and snow.